Tilt Wheel Column: Disassembly

Remove lower bracket assembly-to-lower bearing support bolts. On column shift models, remove shift housing cover. On floor shift models, unsnap and remove shroud extensions. Remove wiring protector from column jacket.
On all models, mount column in vise at capsule bracket.
Remove tilt lever. To remove hazard warning knob, push in knob while unscrewing. Remove ignition key light assembly. Pull knob off wiper/washer switch assembly. Pull hider up switch lever. Remove 2 sleeve-to-wiper/washer switch retaining screws. Remove sleeve.
Rotate shaft in wiper switch fully clockwise. Remove shaft by pulling straight out of wiper/washer switch. Carefully remove plastic cover from lock plate. Using Lock Plate Depressor (J-23653-A), depress lock plate. Pry retaining ring from groove.
Remove lock plate, canceling cam and upper bearing plate. Remove switch actuator screw and arm. Remove 3 turn signal switch attaching screws. Place shift bowl in "LOW" position. Wrap a piece of tape around wires to prevent snagging when removing switch. Remove switch and wiring. See Fig 1 .

Fig 1: Taping Connector & Wires
Remove key light. Place lock cylinder in "LOCK" position. Insert a small screwdriver into slot next to switch mounting screw boss. Depress spring latch at bottom of slot. Remove lock.
Using a paper clip, remove key warning switch. Bend one end of clip into a hook. Insert hook into exposed loop of wedge spring. Pull clip. Remove spring and switch. DO NOT allow spring to fall into steering column.
Remove 3 housing cover screws. Remove housing cover. Remove wiper/washer switch. Using a punch, press out wiper switch pivot pin (if necessary). Tilt lever opening shield and dimmer switch actuator rod may be removed from cap (if necessary).
Place column in fully upright position. Using a large Phillips screwdriver, remove tilt spring retainer. Insert screwdriver in opening. Push in approximately 3/16". Turn approximately 1/8 turn clockwise until ears align with grooves in housing. Remove spring and guide.
Remove dimmer switch mounting screws. Remove dimmer switch. Separate dimmer switch from rod by pulling on rod. Push upper steering shaft in far enough to remove steering shaft inner race seat and inner race. With ignition switch in "ACC" position, remove ignition switch mounting screws and switch. Place Pivot Pin Remover (J-21854-01) over pivot pin. Thread small portion of screw firmly into pin.
Hold screw from turning with one wrench while turning nut clockwise with a second wrench to withdraw pivot pin from support. Remove opposite pivot pin in same manner. Use tilt release lever to disengage lock shoes. Remove bearing housing assembly by pulling upward to extend rack fully.
Move housing assembly left to disengage rack from actuator. Rotate housing clockwise to free dimmer switch actuator rod. Remove activator assembly. Remove coupling from lower end of steering shaft. Double coupling is retained to shaft with a roll pin. Remove shaft assembly from upper end.
CAUTION: DO NOT drop or bump steering shaft as plastic pins may shear.
Disassemble steering shaft assembly by removing center spheres and anti-lash springs. See Fig 2 and Fig 3 . Remove 4 bolts securing support to lock plate. Remove support from end of column jacket. Remove 2 attaching screws and shift gate from support (if necessary). Dimmer switch is removed with support.

Fig 2: Disassembling Steering Shaft Centering Spheres

Fig 3: Shaft Centering Spheres
Using a screwdriver, remove shift tube retaining ring. Remove thrust washer. Remove 2 screws from lower bearing. Remove lower bearing from jacket. Using Puller (J-23073-01), remove shift tube from bowl. Insert bushing on end of puller in shift tube to force tube from bowl. DO NOT hammer shift tube as plastic joints may shear.

Fig 4: Removing Shift Tube from Bowl on Models With Tilt Wheel
From lower end of jacket, remove shift tube from jacket. Remove jacket mounting plate by sliding from jacket notches and tipping down toward bowl hub at 12 o'clock position under jacket opening. Remove wave washer. Remove bowl from jacket. Remove shift lever spring from bowl by winding spring up with pliers and pulling out.
By removing spring retaining screw and moving spring clockwise, remove lock bolt spring. Using a hammer and punch, lightly tap drive shaft from sector. Remove drive shaft, sector and bolt. Remove rack, spring and shim (if used). Remove tilt release lever pin.
Relieve load on lever release by holding shoes inward. Wedge block between top of shoes and bearing housing. Remove release lever and release lever spring. Using punch and hammer, remove lock shoe pin. Remove lock shoes and lock shoe springs.
Remove bearings from bearing housing only if they are to be replaced. Remove separator and ball from bearing. Place housing on work bench. Using a punch against back surface of race, hammer race from housing. DO NOT reuse bearings.